//start rendering
        if (d3ddev->BeginScene())
        {
            
		    //erase the entire background
		    d3ddev->StretchRect(tiles, NULL, backbuffer, NULL, D3DTEXF_NONE);

            //start sprite handler
            sprite_handler->Begin(D3DXSPRITE_ALPHABLEND);

            //create vector to update sprite position
	        D3DXVECTOR3 position((float)Player.x, (float)Player.y, 0);         

           
            //draw the sprite
            sprite_handler->Draw(
                player_ship, 
                NULL,
                NULL,
                &position,
                D3DCOLOR_XRGB(255,255,255));
          
	
			//draw tiles onto the scroll buffer
		    DrawTiles();
			//draw the scroll window onto the back buffer
			DrawScrollWindow();
   
			//stop rendering
			d3ddev->EndScene();
		}